ULMA Packaging Systems South Africa recently completed the showroom at its new head office in Longmeadow East Business Park in Gauteng, which can accommodate several packaging machines, for virtual and in-person demonstrations of modified atmosphere, skin and skin in tray packaging formats for meat, cheese, fresh produce and ready meal applications.

The showroom currently houses traysealing, stretch wrapping, flow wrapping and thermoforming machines with various production output capabilities. MD Eddie Rademan points out that there are machines on order that will introduce new packaging concepts to South Africa, which illustrates the OEM’s commitment to selling solutions rather than selling machines.

Eddie explains that after 18 years in its previous building in Linbro Business Park, the team required more space for warehousing and a showroom. ‘The move occurred in April and we have more than doubled the floor space.’

Market trends

The facility also needs to carry a large volume of spare parts to support the southern African market. Eddie notes that the workshop offers reconditioning, refurbishing and servicing of a variety machines as customers prefer not to buy new machines during challenging economic times.

He adds that the past two years have also resulted in strong development of new packaging concepts and machinery from its Spanish holding company. ‘Game-changing technologies introduced have included tight-bag VFFS for whole bird packaging (providing 2cm to 3cm savings on the polyethylene required per pack); Leafskin cartonboard tray sealing; a versatile skin/rigid/flexible thermoforming machine with a small footprint; a medium production machine for packing various tray sealing concepts; and flow packing of 500g mince packs in modified atmosphere packaging that uses 70% less materials,’ Eddie remarks.

Remote services

ACCORDING to Eddie Rademan, MD of ULMA Packaging’s local subsidiary, the pandemic has resulted in an increase in online factory and remote site acceptance tests, regular webinars to draw potential customers from around the world and a strengthening of film and tray manufacturing partnerships.

Customers can now carry out factory acceptance tests (FAT) via video conferencing software and streaming. High-resolution cameras are used for this real-time service to ensure that they can check every necessary detail of their machines. Furthermore, the whole FAT is recorded for submission with the documentation.

Eddie also notes that the software can be used for the subsequent commissioning of the equipment and for training technical staff.

In addition to these services, ULMA Packaging offers customers remote support to make adjustments to their equipment to meet the needs of new packaging formats as well as address problems/faults quickly via a graphical form, spoken instructions or shared documents.

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